Yonkers Raceway’s Blue Chip Matchmaker offered up Round 4 on Friday night (April 7), with a pair of $40,000 divisions.
This penultimate prelim event offered a different look, notably one less grouping as some of the marquee ma’ams (co-leader Bedroomconfessions and third-place lass Regil Elektra) took the week off.
The opening event saw the millionairess known as Krispy Apple (Brett Miller) cave off some very tepid fractions (:27.1, :57.1, 1:25.2). It was only she and Wrangler Magic (Dan Dube) leaving from their respective outer venues, but neither was involved in the outcome.
Lispatty (Jason Bartlett, $13.80) earned the decision over a squeezing-through, 36-1 Divas Image (Joe Bongiorno) in 1:55.
The winner, from post position No. 3, improved inside down the backside as 17-10 fave Betabcool N (Mark MacDonald) and second choice Tessa Seelster (George Brennan) both left the cones and were essentially devoid of pace.
It was Krispy Apple owning a length-and-three-quarter lead in the lane, but she was done. Lispatty angled out, then prevailed by three-quarters of a length. Wrangler Magic lasted for third, with Hidden Land (Tim Tetrick) and Betabcool N (Mark MacDonald) settling for the remainder while Krispy Apple retreated to seventh.
For fourth choice Lispatty, a four-year-old daughter of McArdle trained by Gilberto Garcia-Herrera for owner Gilbert Garcia-Owen, the win was her first in seven seasonal starts. The exacta paid $182.50, with the triple returning $1,594.
Friday’s second Matchmaker soiree had Medusa (Matt Kakaley, $11.20) do what Krispy Apple could not...finish what she started (:28.1, :57.3, 1:25.1, 1:53.3).
From post No. 4, Medusa seated longshot Empress Deo, then never had an anxious moment. The pocket-sitter gave way by the three-quarters, with Mackenzie A (Jordan Stratton) taking up the chase. That chase left her a length and a quarter in arrears at the wire, the same distance in front of a non-threatening 3-4 choice Mach It A Par (Bartlett).
Empress Deo and Shesjustadelight N (Ron Cushing) settled for the minors.
For third choice Medusa, a six-year-old daughter of Bettors Delight co-owned by Randy Bendis and Tom Pollack and trained by Andy Federico Jr., the win was her fifth in 13 seasonal starts. The exacta paid $29.40, the triple returned $60 and the superfecta paid $390.
In regular racing action, Ontario-sired Caviart Cari Ann (Mark MacDonald, $28.20) closed out the card with a 1:54.4 victory in the $40,000 Fillies & Mares Preferred Handicap. The five-year-old daughter of Sportswriter was claimed in her last start on March 10 at Yonkers by Gilbert Garcia-Herrera.
Round 4 of the George Morton Levy Memorial Pacing Series goes Saturday night (April 8), with three, $50,000 divisions.
A friendly reminder from Yonkers Raceway that Saturday evening’s (April 8) Pick 5 wager starts with a certifiably-enticing double carryover of $12,570.13.
The Pick 5 is a 50-cent base wager comprising races seven through 11 (for programs with at least 11 races...if not, then it goes as races six through 10). It has no consolation payoff, meaning if no one selects all five winners (as was the case Thursday and Friday nights), the entire pool (minus takeout) moves to the next racing program.
(With files from Yonkers Raceway)